As we all are aware, over the past month bushfire has ravaged many regions around Victoria. As with much of the devastation to many communities throughout Victoria, our wildlife has also been greatly affected and we need your help! Many animals have perished in the fires and many that have survived are left homeless without food or water. Teams of volunteer wildlife rescuers around Victoria are spending tireless hours rescuing animals that remain injured from the fires, whether with burns, heat stress, smoke inhalation or dehydration.
BADGAR volunteers have been working in numerous fires across the state, mainly in the Gippsland region. Many efforts have so far been spent on the Boolarra and Churchill fires, some of which have since flared up and will require further work. Over the coming months BADGAR rescuers will attend many fire affected areas around the state in need of further attention, helping the shelters of these areas where ever possible.
BADGAR volunteers have been assisting WRAP, a Gippsland wildlife group and the animals coming into care include Koalas, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Possums, Greater Gliders, Echidnas and Wombats. More than 50 koalas are currently in care with Colleen Woods at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson and at the Morwell Animal Hospital. Many of the carers in the area, some of which have lost their homes or enclosures on their properties through the fires, are still caring for fire victims such as Jean Quick at the Boolarra Wildlife Shelter. Unfortunately many animals such as Wallabies and Kangaroos could not be saved however wildlife rescuers are currently putting water and food drops into areas where healthy populations remain but lack resources.
BADGAR would like to sincerely thank everybody who has made a donation however
great or small, every towel and every dollar helps us help our wildlife.
A massive thanks to the staff at Morwell Animal Hospital for their tireless
efforts no matter what time we rocked up with another animal and also to
Nigel’s Animal Rescue who helped us retrieve many injured Koalas much
too high for our rescuers and equipment. Our efforts will continue for months
to come and we will still require continued support. Please go to our donations page to see how you can help!
The Victorian Wildlife Bushfire Relief fund has been set up and has teamed up with Bob Irwin from the Australian Zoo and have an arrangement with Lyppard ( the largest national veterinary wholesaler in Australia), where they can get vet supplies at cost price.
They are donating lots and lots of stuff to Colleen Woods at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson in Gippsland who has over 40 burnt koalas in at the moment, Dr. Zali Brookes (Fund Co-ordinator) and Bob plan to come down from QLD to some of the shelters with burnt wildlife to get a first hand look at what the donations are going too.
They are also going to keep in touch with BADGAR and when we have any burnt wildlife in care they will try to supply us with whatever we need medical wise.
Please Visit http://www.lyppard.com.au to see what work they are doing
and to learn more about the Victorian Wildlife Bushfire Relief Fund and to
Donate to the cause.
